Adjusting means for the clutch mechanisms of automobiles.



I No. 825,206. PAIBNTBD JULY 3, 1906.

D. F. GRAHAM. ADJUSTING MEANS FOR THE GLUT-GH' MECHANISMS OF AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED JULYZO; 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W/T/VESSEZS PATENTED JULY 3, 1906.

DfF. GRAHAM. ADJUSTING MEANS FOR THE CLUTCH MECHANISMS OF AUTOMOBILES.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 20. 1905.

No. 825,206. A PATBNTED JULY 3, 1906.

- D. F. GRAHAM. ADJUSTING MEANS FOR THE CLUTCH MECHANISMS OF AUTOMOBILES.

'APPLIGATION'IILED JULY 20. 1905.

4 SHEETSSHBET 3.

Til/E8858:

No. 825,206. PATENTED JULY 3, 1906. D. F. GRAHAM.

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR THE CLUTCH MECHANISMS OF AUTOMOBILES.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY 20. 1905.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

U TED STATES warn omen.

DAVID F. GRAHAM. OF MIDDLEI OWN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE EISENHUTH HORSELESS VEHICLE COMPANY, OF MIDDLETOVV N, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

ADJUSTING MEANS FOR THE CLUTCH MECHANISMS OF AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1906.

Application filed July 20, 1905. Serial No. 270,501.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID F. GRAHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Middletown, in the county of Middlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjusting Means for the Clutch Mechanism of Automobiles, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to adjusting means for the clutch mechanisin of automobiles, and it has particular relation to that class of adjustment mechanism which is employed to regulate and govern the engagement contact of the clutch-shoes with the clutch proper.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and improved means whereby such adjustment may be conveniently and effectively regulated as desired and which will,

' furthermore, possess advantages in point of movement to the longitudinal adjustment- 1 rod and also the outer bearing for said rod. Fig. 3 is a detail transverse sectional view taken through the adjusting mechanism for imparting an independent rotary movement to the adjustment-rod. Fig. 1s a deta 1l sectional view taken on a longitudinal -plane through the clutch-drum and its associate I mechanism. Fig. 5 is a detail elevation or face view of the clutch-drum and its associate mechanism. Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the fork mechanism by which the ad ustment-rod is reciprocated or moved longituv dinally. Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the operating connections for the shaft which carries the fork for operating the adj ustmentrod-. Fig. 8 isa detail side viewshowing the mesh of the adjustment-rod with the adjusting-worm. Fig. 9 is a detail top or plan view of the adjusting-worm.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the power-shaft, which extends from the motor or engine mechanism and is preferably tu bular, as at 2, and is mounted in suitable bearings, as at 3. The shaft 1 carries the clutch-drum 4, for which purpose the end of said shaft is preferably extended in the form of a disk, as at 5, to which is riveted or otherwise secured the clutch-drum 4. The clutchdrum is provided interiorly with the usual friction grooves or serrations, as at 6, which are engaged by the corresponding grooved or serrated surface 7 of the clutch-shoes 8. The transmission-shaft 9 is mounted in suitable bearings, as at 10, and carries a set of transmission-gears 11 of different diameters,which are adapted to mesh with speed-change gears, as shown at 12, of varying diameters, comprised in the sliding transmission-gear mechanism and carried upon the rotary shaft 13, from which power is suitably transmitted for the propulsion of the automobile. The transmission-shaft 9 preferably has a ballbearing, as shown at 14, at its end, which projects within the clutch-drum 4, said ballbearing being preferably mounted in connection with or relation to the disk 5 at the end of the tubular portion of the power-shaft 1. Upon the portion of the transmissionshaft 9 within the clutch-drum 4 is secured a dog 15, the connection being preferably effected by means of keys, as at 16. Said dog has an extension 17, to the outer end of which are pivotally connected, as at 18, arms j or extensions .19, projecting, respectively, from the clutch-shoes 8, which arrangement serves to efiectively mount and balance the clutch-shoes in their operative action with j relation tothe friction-surface f the clutch' drum 4 and also assures a uniform frictional contact throughout the length of the engaging surface 7 of the clutch-shoes 8 with relation to the engaging surface 6 of the clutchdrum 4. The construction and arrangement just described thus serve to sustain and balance the shoes 8 at opposite sides of the shaft 9 and in their proper operative relationship to the drum 4. i The transmission-shaft 9 is tubular throughout its length, as shown at 20, and

through said bore 20 in the shaft operates a longitudinally-extending rod 21, adapted to have a sliding movement in a longitudinal plane within the shaft for the purpose of-op- 5 crating the clutch-shoes. Said rod 21 also has an independent rotary movement for purpose of adjustment, as will be hereinafter described. The forward end of said rod 21 is provided with a s iral thread 22, and the [O projecting portion said threaded end-may project within the tubular portion of the power-shaft 1. Said spirally-threaded portion 22 of the rod 21 engages with a spirallythreaded Worm 23, which is accommodated I in a recess 24 in the dog 15, and is mounted upon the central portion of a cross-pin 25, transversely extending through the dog and projecting at opposite sides thereof, said pin having bearings, as at 26, for its turning or rotary movement in the dog. The Worm 23 is in locked connection with the cross-pin 25 in their relative rotary or turning operation, but it has a loose mounting relative to the longitudinal plane of said pin. The 25 mounting of the worm as just described is preferably effected by havin a square or angular bore in the worm, as i lustrated at 27, which engages with a correspondin square or angular central portion 28 upon the crosspin 25, which portion is located at the recess 24 in the dog 15, which accommodates the Worm. The said recess is preferably slightly Wider than the worm, as shown at 29, so that the worm can play slightly in a lateral movement to make the pressure balanced on both of the opposite clutch-shoes 8. The worm is thus loosely mounted laterally, but retained in operative position by the recess 24, and at the same time'it isin locked rotary or turnable connection with the pin 25. -The ends of pin 25 which project beyond the dog '15 are threaded, as at 30, the threads being,

- respectively, right and left or opposite, so that the turning movement of the pin will effeet a corresponding threaded movement at the opposite ends. Said threaded ends 30, respectively, operate in correspondinglythreaded bores 31 of blocks 32, which are.

pivotally mounted, as at 33, in links 34, and

are retained by said links against turning;

a The outer ends of said links arepivotally connected, as at 35, to'extensions 36, upon the respective clutch-shoes 8, the pivotal con- 4 nection of the end links 34 with the shoes "8 bein relative to the free end of the shoes,

whic is opposite from the pivotal mountin and sustaining connection of the shoes wit the extension 17 upon the dog 15.

The operation of the clutch mechanism under the foregoing construction and arrangement will be read ilyunderstood. The powershaft 1, car ing the clutch-drum 4, is continuously revo ving. The transmission-shaft 9 only revolves when the clutch-ehoes' 8 are in frictional contact with thedrum. To throw the shoes into and out of engagement With the'drum, it is only necessary to move the rod 21 in a sliding movement in a longitudinal plane in either direction, in which movement the threaded end 22 of the rod 21 engages the worm 23, and the latter turns the cross-pin, so that by reason of the threaded engagement with the blocks 32 the links 34 operate to move the clutch-shoes upon their balanced and sustained pivotal bearings 18 and 35 to and fromfrictional engagement contact with ,the drum.

In the operation just stated the spir'allythreaded end 22 of the rod 21 operates as a rack in its actuating engagement with the worm 23 to turn the latter and effect the inward or outward movement of the clutchshoes in the manner just described. In its operation to throw the clutch-shoes into and out of engagement contact with the clutchdrum the reciprocating rod 21 has no rotary I or turning movement with respect to the worm. When the clutch-shoes are in en-\ gagement contact with the drum, the transmission-shaft 9 with its gears 11 and the dog 15 and the parts connected therewith all revolve with the drum, as does also the rod 21; but the revolution of the rod 21 during this rotary movement of the transmissionshaft 9 is uniform with the shaft and the con- 5 nected parts of the latter andexerts no actuating effect upon the worm 23. V

The reciprocal or longitudinal movement of the rod 21 to throw the clutch-shoes into and out of the engagement contact with the clutch-drum may be effected in any suitable or desired manner, I prefer, however, to employ the simple construction and arrangement herein illustrated, in which a fork 37 is mounted upon a shaft 38,'having an arm 39, pivotally connected by a-rod 40 with a suitable foot-lever 41. The arms 42 42 of said fork pivotally engages trunnions 43, projectmg from a boxing, as at 44, u on which boxmg the outer or rear end 45 o the rod'21 has suitably-arranged ball-bearing, as at 46. The construction and arrangement is thus such that by 0 eration ofthe foot lever the fork is actuate to move the rod 21 in itemciprocating or longitudinal operation, and at the same time the rod 21 has a bearing upon the boxing connected with the fork duringthe rotary movement of the rod in. unison with the rotary movement of the transmis 1 sion-shaft 9 and the connected parts of the latter. The reciprocating action or. longitudinal movement of the rod 21 is preferably governed by or against-the tension of a coiled spring 47, mounted upon said rod within the bore 20 of the transmission-shaft 9 and oper I25 ating between a flange or shoulder 48 upon the'rod and a shoulder 49 within the bore 20. W For the accommodation of the spring 47 the- 'bore may be enlarged from its interior shoulder 49 toward its outer end, as shown. v13o shoes with relation to the clutch-drum of.

course normally remains the same, the rack action of the rod 31 in its reciprocating movement with relation to the worm 23 being merely for eflecting the movement of the shoes to and from the drum. It is desirable, therefore, in this class of clutch mechanism for automobiles to provide for the adjustment and regulation of the bearing contact between the surface 7 of the shoes and the surface 6 of the drum, this adjustment being employed to take up wear or to govern the closeness of contact between the surfaces 7 and 6. This adjustment relates to the means whereby the shoes maybe moved or adjusted to orfrom the surface 6 of the drum inde pendently of the ordinary operating movement for moving the shoes into and out of engagement contact'with the drum. Such adjustment means have heretofore involved inconvenient and complicated mechanisms or independent mechanism adapted to be in' troduced into the clutch mechanism and used for the purpose of such adjustment. In carrying out my present invention I employ for the purpose of such adjustment the same means, including the reciprocating rod 21 and worm 23 and threaded pin 25, as are used in the ordinary operation of moving the shoes into and out of engagement contact with the drum; but to accomplish this result it is necessary to impart a rotary or turn-- tent'as may be desired to move the clutchshoes outwardly or inwardly to regulate the extent of their clamping binding action when they are thrown into engagement contact with the drum. It will be understood that this rotary independent movement of the rod 21 and its rotary actuation of theworm 23 bythe spiral-gear engagement is delicate and adapted to fine adjustment and is entirely independent of its ordinary reciprocating longitudinal movement, in whlch its threaded end has a rack action upon the worm to turn the latter in a more extended or longitudinal movement. The rotary movement of the rod 21 in its adjustment action is of course entirely independent of any rotary or turning movement of the transmission-shaft 9 and of course has no relation to the rotary movement of said rod 21 when the latter turns in unisonv with the rotary movement of the transmission-shaft and its connected parts. This independent rotary movement of the rod 21 may be elfected in the transmission-shaft.

any suitable or desirable manner; but I prefer to employ the special construction and arrangement as herein illustratedand which I will now proceed to explain. VVi'thin the outer or enlarged art end of the bore 20 of the transmission-s aft 9 is mounted a head or plug 50, preferably by means of a threaded connection, as shown at 51, for purposes of detachability and adjustment. This head 50 has a bore 52, through which the rod 21 passes and which constitutes a bearing for said rod in its independent turning or rotary movement. The head 50 carries a flange or laterally-extending plate 53, which projects at the end of the transmission-shaft 9, and said head 50 and its flange 53 may be secured against turning, with respect to the shaft 9, by means of'keys, as at 54.

Bolted, as at 55, or otherwise secured to the flange or plate 53 is a cap, as at 56, constructed to provide an interior chamber 57 surrounding the rod 21. In this chamber-cap is loosely mounted a-worm wheel or gear 58, which is keyed to the rod 21., as shown at 59, the groove 60in said rod for said key being longitudinally extended to permit the reciprocating or longitudinal movement of said ro'd without disengagement of its key connection with the worm 58, and thus permit independent turning or rotary movement of the rod 21' by action ofthe worm 58 when said rod is at any position in the path of its reciprocal movement. It willbe understood that the worm'58 is operatively housed within the cap 56 between the wall of the chamber of said cap and the end of the head or-plug 50 and that during rotary movement of the transmission-shaft 9 the cap 56, with its worm 58 and other engaged parts and the rod 21, are all carried by and in unison with the tran smission-shaft and that no operative action of the worm 58 is caused upon the rod 21 during the rotation of The worm 58 isindependently turned to turn the rod 21 independent of any movement of the transmission-shaft 9, as hereinbefore explained. To turn the worm 58, I provide a small wormshaft 61 operatively engaging the worm-gear. 58 and'transver'sely mounted in the chambered portion 57 of the cap 56 and having bearings, as at 62, in said cap-piece. worm-shaft 61 has a projecting end, as at 63, or angular or other suitable construction adapted to be engaged by a key or wrench or other suitable instrument which can be convenientlyinserted through an opening in the side of the casing, (shown at 64,) which carries and incloses the clutch and transmission-gear mechanism which is associated with my herein described improved adjusting means.

It will be understood that the arrangement This and adjustment of the spring 47 are preferably such that the spring normally operates to. force or hold the clutch-shoes to their engagement contact with the drum and that the op.

eration of the foot-lever 41 and its connected mechanism, including the fork 37 to actuate the rod 21 is for the purpose of drawing the 5 clutch-shoes away from the drum. It will be noted that the transmission-shaft is suitably y recessed, as shown at 65, in relation to the recess 24 in the dog to accommodate the worm 23 and permit thelatter to project withxo in the bore of the transmission-shaft into op-.

erative engagement position with relationto the threaded end of the rod 21.

The operation and advantages of my invention and improvements will be readily un- I '5 derstood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. A delicate and effective-adjustment .of the clutch mechanism can be conveniently and quickly secured by the variable action of the same mechanism which is 7 2o employed for throwing the clutch into and out of operation.

I do not desire to be understood as limiting myself to the detail construction and arrangement of parts as herein shown and de 2 5 scribed, as it is 'manifest that variations and r modifications therein may be resorted to inv the adaptation of my invention to varyingconditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variation and modification as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

Having thus described my invention, I

' 5 claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent W 1. 'As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch shoes, mechanism for operating 40 and adjusting the clutch-shoes, a rod oper- 'atively engaging said mechanism, means for tion, and means" javing a turning-or rotary.

engagement with said 'mechanism for effectingits'adjustment action.

3. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch-shoes, a turnable or rotary mechanism for operating and adjusting'the clutchshoes, and a single combined actuating means having a rack engagement'with said mechanism for effecting its operative action and a turning or rota'ryengagement with said-mechanismfon efiecting its adjustment action.

- 4. As an improvementin adjusting means 5 for clutch mechanisms of'the class described,

having a recess, the clutch-shoes-carried by gear mounted upon said cross-pin in locked same.

5. As an improvement-in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch shoes, mechanism for operating and adjusting the clutch-shoes, a spirallygeared worm comprised in said mechanism, a rod having aspirally-threaded end engaging said worm, and means for independently turn= ing and reciprocating said rod 'to operate'the worm either by rotary engagement or by reciprooating engagement as a rack.

6. In mechanism of the class described,:the transmission-shaft, a dog carried thereby, the clutch-shoes carried by said-dog, a crosspin mounted in said dog and havin threaded U ends in operative connection with therespec- 9 tive clutch-shoes, a gear operatively-connected with said cross-pin and mounted within said dog, and means for turning said gear.

-7 In mechanism of the class described,-the transmission-shaft; a dog carriedthereby and the dog, a crossin mounted in the dog and having threade ends in operative connection with the respective clutch-shoes, and a rotary connection therewith and having a loose lateral connection therewith, said gear being mounted in the recess in the dog and the recess being wider than the gear topermit lateral movement thereof.

8. As an improvement in a'd'usting'means for clutch mechanisms of the c ass described,. the clutch shoes, a tubular transmission shaft, mechanism carried bysaid shaft for operating and adjusting the clutch-shoes, a rod extending longitudinally in the bore .of said shaft and operatively engaging'the-mecham'sm for operating and adjusting the clutchshoes, means for reciprocating said rod -.to' cause the operative action-of said mechanism, and -means for turningor rotating said rod independently of the transmission-shaft to cause the adjustment action of said mechanism. V

9. As an improvementin ad'usting means for clutch mechanisms of'the" c ass-described,

the clutch-shoes, a transmission shaftgmechanism for operating and adjustingithe clutchv shoes, said mechanism 'beingcarried by the I transmission shaft and turning yin unison therewith, a reciprocating rod operatively engaging said mechanism, said rod 'being car ried by the'transmission-shaft and turningin unison therewith, and means 'for'turning said 'rod independently of the ,turning action of- 1 0 the transmission-shaft, for the purposes set forth.

10 As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch-shoes, a rotary transmission-shaft, and means for the combined purposes of operating and adjusting the clutch-shoes, said means having a rotary movement in unison with the transmission-shaft, an independent reciprocating movement, and also an independent rotary movement.

1 1. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch-shoes, a rotary transmission-shaft, means carried by said shaft and in operative connection with the clutch-shoes for operating and adjusting the same, said means having a rotary movement in unison with the shaft, means independent of said shaft for actuating said first means to operate the clutchshoes, and means carried by said shaft for actuating said first means to adjust the clutchshoes.

12. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described,

v the clutch-shoes, a rotary transmission-shaft,

a rod carried thereby and in operative connection with the clutch-shoes to operate and adjust the same, said rod having a rotary movement in unison with 'the shaft, means independent of said shaft for imparting a reciprocating movement to said rod, and means carried by said shaft for imparting an independent rotary movement of said rod.

13. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described,

the clutch-shoes, a rotary transmission-shaft,

a reciprocating rod carried by said shaft and in operative connection with the clutchshoes, said rod having a rotary movement in unison with the shaft, a gear carried by said rod for turning the same independent of the shaft, and means carried by said shaft for oper'atinizaid gear. a

14. an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described,

the clutch-shoes, a tubular rotary transmission-shaft, a reciprocatin rod extending longitudinally in the bore t hereof and'in operative connection with the clutch-shoes, said rod having a rotary movement in unison with means carried by said shaft for operating said gear in a turnin or rotary movement independent of the shaft.

15. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch-shoes, a tubular rotary transmission-shaft, a reciprocatin rod extending longitudinally in the bore of said shaft and operatively connected with the clutch-shoes,

L said rod having a rotary movement in unison with the shaft, a cap or casing carried upon said shaft, a gear mounted in said cap or casing and having a locked turnable or rotary connection with the reciprocating rod, and means operatively mounted in said cap or casing for turning said gear to cause a rotary movement of said rod independent of said shaft.

16. As an improvement in adjusting means for clutch mechanisms of the class described, the clutch-shoes, a tubular rotary transmissionshaft, mechanism carried by said shaft for o eratin and adjusting the clutch-shoes, a ro exten ed longitudinally in the bore of said shaft and in operative connection with said mechanism, said rod having a rotary movement in unison with the shaft, means independent of said shaft for imparting a reciprocating movement to said rod, and means carried by said shaft for imparting a turning or rotary movement to said rod independent of the rotary movement of the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have si ned my name in the presence of the subscri ing witnesses.

JOSEPH REED LITTELL, HENRY Bns'r.

'the shaft, a gear carried by said rod, and 

